All-new 2015 Nissan Murano crossover to be assembled in the United States

CANTON, Mississippi – The all-new 2015 Nissan Murano will become the first Murano and the ninth vehicle assembled at Nissan's Canton, Mississippi plant. The 11-year old Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant becomes the global source for Murano production, creating export opportunities to more than 100 markets.

The move is part of Nissan's strategy to localize core model production to the United States. More than 85 percent of Nissan vehicles sold in the U.S. will be built in North America by 2015. Murano will be assembled on the same line as Xterra, Frontier, Titan and Armada.

"Bringing Murano production to Canton is a key component of our plan to build more than 85 percent of our U.S. product lineup at our plants here in North America, as well as to increase vehicle exports from our U.S. plants, " said John Martin, senior vice president, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Purchasing for Nissan North America. "Canton employees are looking forward to building the all-new Murano alongside the other outstanding cars and trucks that they build in Mississippi today."

A new supplier park, expected to support 400 new supplier jobs and 400 additional Nissan jobs, is currently under construction next to the vehicle assembly facility. When the plant opened, Nissan became the largest private-sector employer in the region and has since brought even more high-skilled, well-paying jobs to the community while maintaining a diverse workforce that has drawn employees from 80 of Mississippi's 82 counties.

The new third-generation of Nissan's popular flagship crossover symbolizes Nissan's design-led product and brand renaissance. The 2015 Murano features a bold, modern and futuristic exterior and inviting and upscale social lounge interior, carrying forward Nissan's new design direction with V-Motion front end, boomerang-shaped LED Daytime Running Lights, floating roof treatment and efficient aerodynamics. Employees at the Canton assembly plant were responsible for naming one of the new Murano's exterior paint colors, Pacific Sunset.

The all-new Murano arrives in Nissan showrooms in late 2014.

About the Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly PlantThe Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant began operations in 2003 and employs more than 5,600 people with an annual payroll in excess of $200 million.

Since 2003, along with its generous employees, Nissan has awarded more than $8 million in grants, academic scholarships and other charitable contributions in Central Mississippi. Additionally, Nissan employees volunteer many hours annually to community organizations, including working with students in the classroom and as one-on-one mentors.

About Nissan North AmericaIn North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.

About Nissan Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 236,000 employees globally, Nissan sold more than 4.9 million vehicles and generated revenue of 9.6 trillion yen (USD 116.16 billion) in fiscal 2012. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of over 60 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history.